The Islamic State issued a video message to French President Francois Hollande and to the French and Belgian people on Saturday, threatening “car bombs from Paris to Brussels” and mass beheadings.

The video begins with clips of Hollande promising firm action against the “determined fanaticism” of the jihadists and footage of last month’s “Charlie Hebdo” attacks in Paris that killed 17 people, including one of the gunmen, Amedy Coulibaly.

Two jihadists, seated in front of an Islamic State flag, then address the camera:

This is a message to you François Hollande, a message to everyone living in France. Know that the soldiers of the Islamic State are everywhere and that the nightmare has just begun. You have crossed a line by insulting our prophet and religion. We await the order of our caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, to bomb you, kill you, behead you. The nightmare has just begun. We will have no pity for you.

This is a message for all French speaking Muslims, for everybody who speaks French. You will have to make a choice here; this is a battle between Muslims and kufr, a battle between true and wrong. It is time to pick a side, whether you’re with us, whether with them. Those who didn’t make Hijra yet, should do so, it is an obligation. But if one can not leave, act from within. Fight them, kill them, with whatever weapon available. Smash them down, burn their cars, burn down police stations.

In a second statement, the fighters send “a message to France and to Belgium, to those who speak French”, as one brandishes a large knife:

For several years they have been fighting Islam, but we know their weakness. Although you have the weapons and technology we do not possess, we know however that victory will come from God. God is our ally, not yours. So we are ready to fight you, we are waiting. You are just a coward bombing us.

But you, François Hollande, and your little men, will never come, becuse you are nothing but a coward. You are worthless. Why are you afraid to fight us here on the ground? Come to this ground and fight us here. Come taste this. But for now, my knive is thirsty for blood, so I kill murtadeen [apostates].

The men conclude with the warning: “We are fighting here now and will be forgiving towards the Muslims and harsh for the disbelievers. But we will come with this and cut off your heads. Car bombs from Paris to Brussels are no problem.”

About The Author

Scott Lucas is Professor of International Politics at the University of Birmingham and editor-in-chief of EA WorldView. He is a specialist in US and British foreign policy and international relations, especially the Middle East and Iran. Formerly he worked as a journalist in the US, writing for newspapers including the Guardian and The Independent and was an essayist for The New Statesman before he founded EA WorldView in November 2008.